MASS ENSEMBLE – MASS ENSEMBLE (CD by Innocent Eyes & Lenses)
TRAP – BEYOND THE STATUS QUO (CD by Gazul/Musea)
ANORIEN – SABLE OU ALORS (CD by Collectif Ishtar);
ORCHESTRE DE CANCRES – LA GRANDE D’INFORMATION (CD by Collectif Ishtar);
TUPAPAU PAPOTE – LA MAISON DU JOUIR (CD by Collectif Ishtar)
SHUB NIGGURATH – LES MORTS VONT VITE (CD by Musea/Gazul Records)
FEAR NO FALL (CD by Lowlands)
MICHEAL PRIME – DOMESTIC SCIENCE (CD by Mycophile)
HYBRYD MACHINE – ELOQUENCE (CD by Virtual Music)
APHASIA – MESOSPHERIC (CD by Noise Museum)
SHIFTS – SEVEN DOTS. (CD by Meme)
MASS ENSEMBLE – MASS ENSEMBLE (CD by Innocent Eyes & Lenses)
I’ve always been interested in groups/musicians inventing not only there own musical language but there own instruments aswell. Although ‘instrument’ has become many extra dimensions in this age of all kinds of electric and electronic possibilities, I use the word ‘instrument’ here in a more traditional manner, meaning acustical instruments. To give an example, just think of the instruments Harry Partch built, the daxophone of Hans Reichel, etc.Bill Close, member of the Mass Ensemble invented a long string instrument, called the Close Long Bow (a 25 foot stringed sculpture/instrument). The possibilities of this new instrument are not being discovered in a solo context, like Ellen Fullman did with her Long String Instrument. Together with cello and diverse (sculpture)percussion, the Close Long Bow completes the set of instruments used by this ensemble. And they interfere wonderfully with each other.The music is sometimes ambient, sometimes referring to forms of early music, world music etc. But although an eclectic mix of musical styles, the Mass Ensemble produce very much there own thing.The ensemble started in 1994 as group of musicians, dancers and visual artists, working on sonic and visual performances. I can’t tell in what way dance and visual aspects are integrated in their work. But as they give workshops on the ‘Healing
Qualitities of Sound and Movement’ the cd offers only a partial, but
overall enjoyable insight in their work. (DM)
TRAP – BEYOND THE STATUS QUO (CD by Gazul/Musea)
This CD is the first release on Gazul Records, a new sublabel by Musea. I do not want to go into the politics of recordcompanies and ask what makes them decide to bring sublabels alife. But in the case of Gazul Records – dedicated to ‘New Music’ – I do wonder why, as many of the releases to date are rereleases of records from the eighties.’new’, meaning recent is the first release on Gazul: ‘Beyond the Status Quo’ by Trap. This is a solo-project by San Francisco-based drummer Gary Parra. Parra is known for his work with groups like Cartoon and PFS in the early and mid-eighties. Both groups were operating in the vein of Rock In Opposition-groups like Henry Cow, Stormy Six, etc. Most bandmembers of both groups make a reappereance as guestmusicians on this solo-effort by Parra. So it’s more of a reunion and it’s no wonder that ‘Beyond the Status Quo’ picks up where Cartoon and PFS left. Although it breaks no new ground, tracks differ a lot as they are structured around very different muscal ideas. Parra offers a panoramic excursion into the field of Recommended-styled progressive music, typical for European groups like Henry Cow, Univers Zero, Blast or’the panoramic view this CD offers is at times a little foggy, because of the arrangments and production that are often unclear. The music would be more powerful if the arrangments were tighter. (DM)
ANORIEN – SABLE OU ALORS (CD by Collectif Ishtar);
ORCHESTRE DE CANCRES – LA GRANDE D’INFORMATION (CD by Collectif Ishtar);
TUPAPAU PAPOTE – LA MAISON DU JOUIR (CD by Collectif Ishtar)
Collectif Ishtar are from France (Bourg-en-Bresse to be more precise). They are about 20 people operating in the field of music and danse. And as above mentioned cd’s show the collective manifests itself through different combinations. Anorien is a very nice and capable trio of tenor and soprano sax plus clarinet. There music can be described as a sort of neo-classical chambermusic. It reminds me of the music of Hector Zazou (‘Geographes’-period). Both make the same impressionistic and dreamy paintings. There music is typical for the country where once Satie and Debussy composed there music. All three players are member of the 13-piece Orchestres de Cancres (diverse hornplayers, violin, drums, guitar, etc.). This group makes the most clear statement of the three groups presented here. There music has much tension and agression. The music constantly changes of measure and is often rhythmic complex. A music that is typical for European groups with jazz-sympathies but not willing to copy American examples. This makes Orchestres de Cancres a young and new member of the same family as groups like Six Cylindres en V.Tupapau Papote is the most ‘poppy’ of the three. They may have the most funny and interesting name, there music is not. They play loosely constructed ‘songs’ with much spoken word from radio on the back- or foreground. The accordeon is the central instrument here, accompanied with guitar, drums, cello, soprano sax. All in all it did not make much impression on me as the music does not pass the phase of merely vague musical ideas. May be much attention has to be given to the texts. But as my french is not so good I can’t give a judgment on that. (DM)
SHUB NIGGURATH – LES MORTS VONT VITE (CD by Musea/Gazul Records)
Shub Niggurath was formed in 1983 in Paris. As far as I know they have only two albums out so far. ‘Les morts vont vite’ was their first one. Originally released on Musea Records in 1986 as an lp, here it’s rereleased on the cd-format on Gazul Records a new sublabel of Musea. Completed with two tracks only available on compilations, this a very welcome rerelease.Shub Niggurath makes it no secret that they love Magma and Univers Zero. They travel within the same dark Lovecraftian universe, but they choose definitely they own direction.With the help of distorted guitars, growling basses, trombone, drums, etc. the music can be described no other then as dark,’Niggurath differs from groups like Magma and Univers Zero, because the music is very noisy and loud with a heavy concentration on timbre and sono¨rity. They are definitely not a retro (zeuhl-)band, but they are very much in touch with time. One of my best kept secrets (DM).
FEAR NO FALL (CD by Lowlands)
Reviews on CD’s like this usually go like: “with a line up like this nything could happen, either the full hit or the total miss, but this is…” and we are explained what happened. The underlying principle of this CD is very interesting, however not innovative: hook various musicians up for a couple of nights and let them play and improvise together in various combinations. Most of the musicians here have a wide experience in improvising so the quality stamp is all over it. featured are: Jim O’Rourke, Zeena Parkins, Toshinori Kondo, David Shea, DJ Low and Dirk Wachtelaer: all together a great combo with various instruments at hand, ranging from sampler to guitar to drums and trumpet. The title of the end is well chosen: to go out and play with like minded on one stage, one should no be hindered by thoughts of falling.
As with all improvised music, this has some very good moments, like the opening duet between Parkins and O’Rourke or Shea’s jew harp and O’Rourke bluegrass guitar, but when it’s altogether now it turns out to be an out of control chaos. Despite that (it’s only track with the complete crew), it’s most enjoyable CD, and certainly one that the fans of some of these should have. (FdW)
Address: <lowlands@innet.be>
MICHEAL PRIME – DOMESTIC SCIENCE (CD by Mycophile)
Morphogenesis frontman returns with another CD, this one seems to be a kind of conceptual thing. The four lengthy tracks have been recorded around the house, using the radiator, freezer and the good ‘ol pan of pasta on the gas hob. All the sounds are thrown in the blender, that is the harddisc, and editing with a dash of salt and with warmth. Be warned: you’re not just listening to the pasta going al dente, but a thorough sound processing at every possible level is going on. Dynamic range wise this goes from Bernard Guenther to Merzbow – aka the full spectrum. The first time I heard this was in a train – never a listening space – but some of the drones went along fine, but I really recommend a domestic listening session to catch the finest moments on this album. Prime has succeeded yet again to deliver a beautiful album of modern musique concrete/collage music. (FdW)
Address: <mikep@myco.demon.co.uk>
HYBRYD MACHINE – ELOQUENCE (CD by Virtual Music)
Some people go wild over old soundtrack music, some on Adam & The Ants (I kid you not) and I have a weakness for synthie pop of the worst kind. Hybryd Machine sound exactely like Kraftwerk, less the depth, and a third to twentih imitation – and I sing a long ‘The Model’ and ‘Being Boiled’. Here at Vital Weekly we sometimes say: “you hear this? It’s so bad, that it’s good”… oh dear (FdW)
Address: <virtual-music@aon.at>
APHASIA – MESOSPHERIC (CD by Noise Museum).
After Stereoisomerism on Korm Plastics, Aphasia, a.k.a. Richard Johnson, now released a new CD on Noise Museum. Nine tracks of repetitive breakbeats combined with a lot of ambient sounds. This is not drum and bass, it is experimental music that uses samples of breakbeats next to a variety of other sounds. Sometimes the beats slide out of sync,like the irregularity of road workers using pneumatic hammers and other “industrial” sounds are mixed in. Drops of “acid” are also used in some of the pieces. But still drum and bass lovers will like this cd!
When you read this you might think this cd is going all over the place and might be quiet chaotic, but the fact is, although Apasia is using all sorts of different musical styles and different kind of sounds, this is a very constant and well thought/worked out record.
Some of the tracks would do nicely on vinyl!! Chill out room!!! (RM)
Address: <NOISE.MUSEUM@wanadoo.fr>
SHIFTS – SEVEN DOTS. (CD by Meme).
Seven Dots is the second full length CD by Shifts, a side project of Frans De Waard. The first was “Pangaea” on the label “Elsie And Jack” and this one on your favourite new minimalism label, Meme from Japan. All their releases have the same design; completly white covers; Meme is the Japanese word for “eyes”.
“Seven Dots” are the seven tracks on this new CD for which he is using guitar, four tracks recording and the “pt device” which is a turning thing with which Frans De Waard plays the strings on his guitar; “a ebow sort of thing”.
The first time I heard this CD I was not too much aware of what was playing and (i guess it was track number 4; The Fourth Dot) it sounded to me like a piece of Charlemagne Palestine; repetetive playing of the same tones over and over again until you can almost hear harmonics only.
But other tracks are different; drony ambient style with also a lot of harmonics. Beautifully recorded and ideal for late night headphone (but leave the speakers on for low end!) listening. (RM)
Address: <meme-@msh.biglobe.ne.jp>